If you are a salaried employee in India, filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) for FY 2025-26 is mandatory once your income crosses the basic exemption limit. The deadline for filing ITR for AY 2026-27 is 31 July 2026. Filing on time helps you avoid a penalty of up to ₹5,000 under Section 234F and also ensures you receive any tax refund you are entitled to.

Whether you are filing your ITR for the first time or you do it every year, gathering the right documents in advance makes the process faster, more accurate, and completely stress-free. This guide covers every document you need for ITR filing in 2026 — along with why each one matters.

Why Salaried Employees Must File ITR Even After TDS Deduction

Many salaried employees believe that since their employer already deducts TDS (Tax Deducted at Source), there is nothing left to do. This is a common misconception. Here is why filing ITR is still important:

• Claim a tax refund if your employer deducted excess TDS
• Declare additional income from interest, rent, freelance work, or investments
• Carry forward capital losses to future years
• Required proof for home loans, personal loans, and visa applications
• Mandatory if you want to revise your tax regime choice for AY 2026-27

New Tax Regime Update for AY 2026-27

As per Budget 2025, the New Tax Regime is the default option for all taxpayers in FY 2025-26. Key changes that affect salaried employees:

• Standard deduction increased to ₹75,000 (up from ₹50,000)
• Tax rebate under Section 87A extended — no tax payable up to ₹12 lakh taxable income
• Effective tax-free income for salaried employees: ₹12.75 lakh (₹12L + ₹75K standard deduction)
• If you want to continue with the Old Tax Regime, you must explicitly opt out of the new regime while filing your ITR

Complete Document Checklist for ITR Filing (FY 2025-26)

1. Form 16 — The Most Critical Document

Form 16 is issued by your employer by 15 June 2026 for the previous financial year. It has two parts:

• Part A: TDS details deducted from your salary by the employer, confirmed against Form 26AS
• Part B: Detailed salary breakup including basic salary, HRA, perquisites, allowances, and deductions claimed under Chapter VI-A

If you changed jobs during FY 2025-26, collect Form 16 from all employers separately.

2. Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS)

Form 26AS is your consolidated tax credit statement available on the Income Tax portal. Before filing, download and verify:

• TDS deducted by your employer matches what is shown in Part A of Form 16
• TDS on bank interest (FD, savings account) is correctly reflected
• Any advance tax or self-assessment tax you paid is showing

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a more comprehensive version that also shows interest income, dividend income, high-value transactions, and foreign remittances. Cross-check AIS carefully to avoid discrepancy notices.

3. Salary Slips for the Entire Year

Keep monthly salary slips for FY 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026). These are useful to:

• Verify House Rent Allowance (HRA) received month-by-month
• Cross-check Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) claims
• Reconcile any mid-year salary revision or joining bonus

4. PAN Card and Aadhaar Card

Your PAN (Permanent Account Number) is your login ID for the Income Tax e-filing portal. Aadhaar linking with PAN is mandatory under Section 139AA — without this, your ITR cannot be processed. OTP-based e-verification of your filed return is also done via Aadhaar.

5. Bank Account Details

You must disclose all bank accounts (savings, current, NRO, NRE) in your ITR, even if they are dormant. The bank account where you want your refund credited must be pre-validated on the Income Tax portal. Have your IFSC code and account number ready.

6. Investment Proofs for Old Tax Regime (If Applicable)

If you are opting for the Old Tax Regime, keep these proofs ready to claim deductions:

• Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh): LIC premium receipts, PPF passbook, ELSS statements, NSC certificates, tuition fee receipts, home loan principal repayment certificate
• Section 80D: Health insurance premium receipts for self, spouse, children, and parents
• Section 24(b): Home loan interest certificate from your bank for up to ₹2 lakh deduction on interest paid
• Section 80E: Education loan interest certificate
• Section 80G: Donation receipts from eligible charitable institutions
• HRA exemption: Rent receipts and landlord’s PAN (if annual rent exceeds ₹1 lakh)

7. Capital Gains Documents (If Any)

If you sold shares, mutual funds, or property during FY 2025-26, you need to file ITR-2 (not ITR-1). Collect:

• Broker statements or DMAT account statements showing buy and sell transactions
• Cost of acquisition and sale price for computing long-term or short-term capital gains
• Property sale deed and stamp duty value for real estate transactions

8. Other Income Documents

• Interest income: FD interest certificates from all banks, savings account interest passbook
• Rental income: Rent agreement and municipal tax receipts
• Freelance/professional income: Form 16A from clients who deducted TDS under Section 194J
• Dividend income: Statements from company registrars or broker platforms

Which ITR Form Should You File?

Choosing the wrong form makes your ITR defective under Section 139(9). Here is a quick guide:

• ITR-1 (Sahaj): Salary or pension income, one house property, interest income — total income up to ₹50 lakh
• ITR-2: Capital gains, two or more house properties, foreign assets, or income above ₹50 lakh
• ITR-3: Business or professional income in addition to salary
• ITR-4 (Sugam): Presumptive income under Section 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE

Step-by-Step ITR Filing Process for AY 2026-27

1. Download Form 16, Form 26AS, and AIS
2. Log in to the e-filing portal using your PAN and password
3. Select e-File > Income Tax Returns > File Income Tax Return
4. Choose AY 2026-27 and the correct ITR form (ITR-1 or ITR-2)
5. Upload Form 16 — most fields auto-populate
6. Verify all income, TDS, and deduction details
7. Choose your tax regime (New is the default; opt out if Old is better for you)
8. Check total tax liability and pay any balance via Challan 280
9. E-verify within 30 days using Aadhaar OTP, Net Banking, or DSC

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filing ITR

• Not verifying your ITR after submission — unverified returns are treated as not filed
• Choosing the wrong ITR form (e.g., filing ITR-1 when you have capital gains)
• Forgetting to declare FD interest income — banks report this to ITD directly
• Missing foreign assets declaration if you hold RSUs or ESOPs in foreign companies
• Not reconciling AIS before filing — mismatches trigger automated notices

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the last date to file ITR for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)?

A: The due date for salaried individuals whose accounts are not subject to audit is 31 July 2026. Belated returns can be filed up to 31 December 2026, subject to a late fee of up to ₹5,000.

Can I file ITR without Form 16?

A: Yes. Use Form 26AS, AIS, salary slips, and your bank statements to compute your income and TDS. Log in to the portal and fill in the details manually if your employer has not issued Form 16.

Do I need to attach documents while e-filing ITR?

A: No. ITR forms are annexure-less. You do not submit any documents with your return. However, retain all documents for at least 6 years in case of scrutiny or notice from the Income Tax Department.

My income is below ₹12.75 lakh — do I still need to file ITR?

A: Under the new tax regime, income up to ₹12.75 lakh is tax-free for salaried employees. However, filing ITR is still advisable if you want to claim a refund, apply for a loan, or carry forward losses.